Haldol® Decanoate is a brand name of a depot formulation of haloperidol which is a first-generation (“typical”) antipsychotic. Here is basic information about this medication.

FDA-approved indications

Treatment of schizophrenic patients who require prolonged parenteral antipsychotic therapy

Dosage

A. Initial dosage (given by deep IM injection every month)

Switchover from oral dose to haloperidol decanoate can be achieved by using the initial dose that is 10-20 times the daily oral dose in haloperidol equivalents.

a) In elderly, debilitated, and patients stabilized on low dose (up to 10 mg/day) of oral haloperidol

Administer 10-15 times the daily oral dose

b) In patients stabilized on high oral dose or who have become tolerant to the oral medication

Administer 20 times the daily oral dose

Maximum initial dosage can not exceed 100 mg. If the calculated dose after conversion exceeds 100 mg, then 100 mg may be administered immediately followed by remaining dose in 3-7 days.

B. Maintenance dose

May be titrated upwards or downwards based upon therapeutic response. Usual maintenance dose is 10-15 times the daily oral dose.

Dosage forms and strengths

Injection (Haldol® Decanoate and generic): 50 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL

Please refer to Prescribing Information (see link below) for complete discussion of dosage, administration, warnings and precautions, contraindications, etc.